In the aftermath of Sunday’s deadly tornado that shredded central Arkansas, President Obama made a vow to residents there:

“Your country will be there to help you recover and rebuild, as long as it takes.”

Those are comforting words. They might even be true. Or maybe not.

Just ask Washington Mayor Gary Manier. The day after a Nov. 17 twister ripped apart the core of Washington, Manier took a phone call from the president.

“He told me the same thing,” Manier says.

A pledge like that can be invaluable. Amid horrible devastation, a community can stand firm on a presidential promise that the most powerful nation on earth has your back.

But that didn’t happen for Washington. Not even close.

Sure, the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided financial help for individuals. But the city also took a hard hit for the costs of cleanup and road repairs, a wallop of about $26 million. That’s no chump change to a municipality with an annual budget of less than $19 million.

FEMA often helps with such tornado-related costs. But not all the time. Blame a shortsighted formula.

It’s not based on what damage to a town or county. Rather, it involves a complexly stupid formula based on total population of an entire state. More people means a higher threshold, no matter where you live — urban or rural. So in Illinois, Chicago drives up the threshold, far above costs incurred by Washington. And it’s all or nothing. So, Washington got nothing.

See? Like I said, it’s stupid.

President Obama didn’t write those rules. But he can override them, though with Washington he said no.

Plus, he promised — to Washington and Arkansas — the federal government would be there to help to the end. But those words come off like warnings issued in small print, the kind only a lawyer can parse. Terms such as “help” and “as long as it takes” are decided by FEMA’s dumb rules. Period.

That set-up makes you feel even sadder for burgs in Arkansas such as Vilonia, population 3,815. They’re just beginning to process the destruction there. The mayor of Vilonia told CNN, “There’s a few buildings partially standing, but the amount of damage is tremendous. There’s gas lines spewing. Of course, power lines down. Houses are just a pile of brick.”

Page 2 of 2 - Soon, no doubt, Vilonia and other burgs will shake off the shock of chaos and try to pick themselves up. At that time, they’ll be counting on the president’s words that FEMA will be there for them. Maybe things will be different in Arkansas. Maybe the FEMA formula will work there to allow more aid. Maybe the president will ensure complete recovery. Maybe he’ll even tour Arkansas, something that didn’t happen for Washington.

To that possibility, Manier says, “I know the citizens of Washington would be shocked if he goes to Arkansas. They just wouldn’t understand that.”

Meanwhile, from Washington, Manier already has been trying to lend a hand to his counterparts in Vilonia and nearby Mayflower. He says he first wants to offer words of compassion.

“You’re just trying to reach out,” Manier says. “It’s unfortunate to say, but I know how that feels. The important thing for them to know right now is to have patience.”

But Manier is extending not just moral support. As the needs become clearer in Arkansas, Washington will get ready to roll. For example, the city has a warehouse of donated supplies, some of which Washington can spare.

“Regifting,” Manier calls it.

And you never know where that regifting might lead. You never know when you’ll need help again.

Just ask Vilonia. In late April 2011, it was at the forefront of an outbreak of 358 tornadoes that tore through a wide swath of the country. Of 348 deaths, four occurred in Vilonia, where numerous structures were ruined or damaged. Some were rebuilt, only to face Sunday’s twister.

You don’t want to think about such things in Washington. But as Manier says, “It can happen again.”

He was talking about tornadoes. But he also could’ve been talking about unfulfilled government promises, which have a destructive impact all their own.